Apple’s phones (and presumably future iPads) will use the same standard as Samsung, LG, and most other mobile makers. It’s a specification called Qi, agreed upon by the World Powerless Consortium (WPC). If you dive deep into wireless chargingWhat You Need to Know About Wireless ChargingWhat You Need to Know About Wireless ChargingUntil our devices offer week-long battery life, charging on the go will remain a reality for us all.Read More or have been following it for some time, you’ll know that agreeing upon this one standard is a big deal. Think of it like Apple, Samsung, and everyone else using the same type of charging cable. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world to live in?

What to Look for in Wireless Chargers

So now that there is one standard, you’d think it’s as simple as buying any wireless charger. Not quite. There are still a few things you should look for in getting a future-proof, quality charger.

Qi 1.2 Support: In the Qi specification, there are different standards like Qi 1.0, Qi 1.1, and Qi 1.2. Get only wireless chargers with Qi 1.2 support. This is the fastest (15W output) of all the chargers. The iPhones currently support only 7.5W input, but it might get a firmware upgrade for faster speeds. So err on the safe side and get the better quality Qi 1.2 chargers.

Single or Multiple Coils: Coils in a charging pad determine how easily your phone will orient with the pad. With a single coil, you might need to move your phone around a couple of times until it starts charging. With multiple coils, you have higher chances of getting it right the first time. Coils can theoretically charge your phone faster, but in practice, a single coil maxes out your phone’s charging speed anyway. And more coils means charging more devices at the same time.

Same Port as Your Phone: This is not essential, but it can help. Get a wireless pad with a USB Type-C portWhat Is USB Type-C?What Is USB Type-C?Ah, the USB plug. It is as ubiquitous now as it is notorious for never being able to be plugged in right the first time.Read More or a standard micro USB port depending on what your phone uses. Similarly, iPhone users should look for wireless pads with Lightning ports.

Fast Charging vs. Quick Charging: Fast Charging is Samsung’s take on Quick Charging. Anything branded as Quick Charging also works with phones that need Fast Chargers, and vice versa. For the most part, it’s little more than a name. In this article, the terms Quick Charge and Fast Charge are used interchangeably.

It’s nice that Samsung includes a wall charger with it, since that adds to your cost if you don’t already have the right charger. Plus, it’s always a good idea to get a charger from the same company than buy a third-party knock-off.

The Samsung Convertible is a bit too large to carry everywhere with you as a charger. In steps the Incipio Ghost, with a similar three-coil setup but in a more portable avatar. It’s shaped like a phone itself, so you’ll never misalign the phone for wireless charging. It’ll work even if you keep it sideways, like pictured above. And it’s flat and thin, making it easy to carry with you.

The Ghost also has LED indicators to show when your phone is charging. But the neat part is audio indicators, which beeps when the phone starts charging and when it’s fully charged. It’s a nice little touch that makes all the difference.

If you prefer stands to flat charging pads, this RAVPower model is the best you can get. For starters, it includes two coils, which means you can prop up your phone in portrait or landscape mode. In other words, you can watch a movie while the phone is charging.

The rest of the features are what we consider the minimum you should look for in wireless chargers. RAVPower’s two-coil stand includes an LED indicator at the bottom to show the charging status, but unless you’re in a dark room, it’s useless. You’ll have better luck looking at your phone’s notification lights. And remember, you’ll need to buy a QC 3.0-compliant charger for Fast Charging.

The RAVPower Fast Charge Pad is the cheapest model from a reliable brand if you want Qi 1.2 support for quick charging. It’s a simple, no-fuss, no-frills charging pad that gets the job done. Hook it up to a QC 3.0-compatible adapter (not included in the pack) and you’re ready to charge.

The green light indicates it is charging, while the blue light indicates it’s on standby. Unlike the more expensive models though, it won’t automatically stop charging once the battery is full, you’ll need to take your phone away.

The Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6, and most other flagship Android phones today have a USB-C port. It doesn’t make sense to carry two different types of charging cables with you, does it? So get a wireless charging pad with a USB-C port, like the Anker PowerPort.

The only downside of this one is that Anker recommends you remove any phone case before charging. Several other pads will let you charge with a case on, and customers say this one works with a case too. We’ll let you be the judge of that.

Anker hasn’t included a wall charger though, so you’ll need to use yours or buy your own. In fact, Anker’s own Quick Charge plug would be the best with this.

Both the charging pads are coming to the Apple Store soon, so be on the lookout for them. They are made specifically for iPhones, so we can hope to see Lightning ports on these. Belkin also notes that a future software update will make it Qi 1.2 compatible.

Both devices cost about $60 on the Apple Store. There’s another version of the Belkin wireless charging pad available already on Amazon.